Recent AU grad Lila Wolfe thrives at Fostoria School District teaching choir, directing stage productions

Lila Wolfe says so many things she learned at Ashland University have greatly helped in her job at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School.

“Between music theory, aural skills and choir teaching methods, everything I studied for my music education degree is something I use in my daily teaching,” said the 2023 AU grad who has been Fostoria’s choir director the past two years, as well as director of plays and musicals. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to apply all of that knowledge in the classroom.”

“Game of Tiaras” is the latest play she is co-directing with another teacher that will be presented April 11-13 and, in May, the musical, “Once Upon a Mattress” will be the school’s next presentation.

Last school year as a first-year teacher, Wolfe successfully put together the one-act play, “Check, Please,” with a cast and crew of 19 students.

This year, 36 students are involved with “Game of Tiaras” and another sizeable cast is part of “Once Upon a Mattress.”

“I have greatly enjoyed watching my program grow and seeing my students learn and improve,” Wolfe said. “It’s been so rewarding to get to know everyone at Fostoria, build relationships with my students and make new friends in a community that was new to me.”

In addition to talking to her choir students and band students to join the two stage productions, Wolfe credited her co-director, Hayli Herrera, a math teacher, with also recruiting more students this year.  

Herrera said working with Wolfe has been a fantastic experience.

“She is extremely organized, creative, and has a clear vision for the production while also being flexible with students' schedules,” Herrera said.“ Every rehearsal is a positive and collaborative space. The students feel supported, confident and comfortable expressing themselves in Wolfe's presence. Wolfe sets high expectations for students but balances them with encouragement, which helps the students grow not only as performers but as individuals. Her ability to balance professionalism with warmth makes her easy to collaborate with, and she truly cares about the people she works with.”

Likewise, as a choir director, Wolfe brings out the best in her students, and that shows in the increase of choir students from her first year to this year, Herrera added.

“I feel incredibly supported in Fostoria,” said Wolfe, who not only teaches choirs and directs two shows a year, but also gives private singing lessons to students.

Wolfe credits Ashland University for teaching success

Her time at AU helped shape her into the successful musician and teacher she has been at Fostoria.

“The foundation I built (at AU) is something I use every day in my work now,” Wolfe said. “I will forever be grateful for my experiences at AU.”

Because she had her heart set on another college, Wolfe actually ended up at AU unexpectedly.

“When my financial aid fell through, I had to find a new plan,” said Wolfe, a graduate of Madison Comprehensive High School in Mansfield. “While at a band camp, I met Joseph Lewis, the (AU) director of bands and, before I knew it, I was at (AU) marching band camp just a couple of weeks later, starting a path I hadn’t originally planned but ended up embracing.”

Performing in AU plays and musicals and meeting some of her best friends through them, as well as participating in the annual Madrigal Feaste with the Chamber Singers and late nights studying music history with another good friend in the choir library are some of the many great memories Wolfe said she made at Ashland University.

So many people at AU, including all of her music professors, were incredibly helpful and left a last impression on her, Wolfe said.

Involvement in the community important to Wolfe

The same thing is happening at Fostoria, not only in her school, but in the community, where she’s involved with the Fremont Community Theatre, Fremont Community Teen Theatre and working part time at Starbucks.

Fremont is a similar-sized community near Fostoria, which has a population of about 14,000, in northwest Ohio about an hour and a half from Ashland.

After finding the opening for her job through the OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) job portal, Wolfe said she’s glad everything fell into place.

“My students and my work in theatre have both taught me so much, and being surrounded by music every day is a true blessing,” Wolfe said. “It keeps me inspired and excited, and I’m thankful to be doing what I love.

“I always knew I wanted to be a music director,” Wolfe added. “Growing up, I was surrounded by music – my grandma taught me piano, I joined our band as soon as I could and then choir in high school. I had my heart set on teaching, and I don’t think anyone could have convinced me otherwise.”